Trama

Shunned, withdrawn and possibly autistic, Murray "Moe" Norman transformed pain into perfection, becoming known as the greatest at striking a golf ball in history and a legend by doing everything his own way.

The Feeling of Greatness is a documentary film about Moe Norman's incredible life story, telling the story how a working class Canadian became a world-class golfer who perplexed the golf establishment with his other-worldly golf skill, quirky personality, bewildering on-course antics, and engaging eccentricities. This work documents the life story of one of the greatest characters in sport. An inspiring tale of one man's tragedies and triumphs, The Feeling of Greatness is a story of pathos and exhilaration, joy and despair, discovery, celebration, acceptance, comeuppance and honor.

Led by Barry Morrow, winner of an Oscar for his screenplay for the Rain Man, Norman's protégé Todd Graves and Norman's biographer Tim O'Connor, the trio lead a team of experienced documentarians and journalists who trace Norman's story from his working class roots in Kitchener, Ontario to becoming a legend around the world for his jaw-dropping ability to hit a golf ball, his tenacious drive to overcome discrimination, and as the subject of fascination for strange and heart-breaking stories of a man who felt at home on the golf course but bewildered by the world off the course.

After setting the context that Norman became the most skilled golfer in the history of the game who could never take advantage of his skill at the highest levels of the game, the documentary explores the childhood sledding accident in which Norman suffered an untreated head injury which may have triggered savant-like skills and tendencies, according to interviews with experts in the field.

As social misfit, Moe was beleaguered by the blue bloods of the golf establishment. Growing up as an anxious child who felt out of place at school, Norman found safety and peace at the golf course, first as a caddie and then as a player. The golf course became his home; his working class family could not understand his fascination with the rich's man's game, making his home life miserable and intensifying his dreams of becoming rich and famous. Norman achieved his goal of becoming the greatest ball-striker in the history of golf, but his social ineptitude and lack of confidence derailed his dreams. Although regarded as the best ever to hit a golf ball, Norman lived hand to mouth until finding notoriety and respect late in late life.

The film documents how after a lifetime of feeling snubbed by golf's establishment, Norman is finally accorded respect from the golf world through his long-overdue induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, featured on the cover of Golf Digest, The Feeling of Greatness biography is released, and Norman becomes the subject of media attention around the world.

The sad irony of Norman receiving recognition late in life hits a climax when he is awarded a $5,000-a-month "end of life scholarship" by the CEO of a major golf company who explains in the documentary that Norman's life has made a significant inspiration and contribution to the betterment of golf. The financial windfall provides Norman with security in his old age as heart degenerates, leading to his death at age 75 in 2004.